Is This The Michelle Wie The US Is Looking For...???

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

After a double bogey late in her final round at Pinehurst for the US Women's Open title, a lot of folks thought Stacy Lewis was poised to take advantage of Wie's collapse for either a playoff or a title of her own.

Didn't happen...

A birdie on 17 and a par on 18 sealed it for Michelle Wie for her first major title- and possibly making Annika Sorenstam's point about it being a turning point in Wie career and that of USA golf as we move forward.

Here's the Golf Channel look at where Wie has come from to get to this point in time

Lucy Li Misses Women's Open Cut: So What...

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

SHE'S 11 YEARS OLD!!!

For the record, the youngest player ever to qualify for the US Women's Open shot back-to-back 78's and will watch the weekend like the rest of us from Pinehurst.

But a lot has to be said about how she handled herself in that bull ring for five days.

She caught flak from some professional golfers for being too young to play. But the HQ maintains that, if she went through the Q-process to get there and beat others, then she deserves to be there.

She thought it was cool and handled her self really well.


The HQ looks forward to seeing her game develop over the next four decades or so...

11-Year-Old Keeps Debate Going At US Open

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

Lucy Li qualified for the US Women's Open at Pinehurst...

Lucy Li is 11 and has elicited the opinion of every golfer playing against her at Pinehurst. Some like the idea and some don't. But the bottom line is that she qualified and shot an opening round 78.

She thought it as pretty cool...
Here's the highlights from Day One


So, dear reader, what say you...???

Should Lucy Li be around at the age of 11...???

Erik Compton Makes A Helluva Statement

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Erik Compton is a two-time heart transplant recipient (1992 and 2008). And to see what he has done in sports as a professional golfer is really cool...

What he did at Pinehurst is flat out awesome- especially when doctors tell you that you're not going to play golf after the second translplant.

Rex Hoggard's piece over at the Golf Channel is required reading about this weekend for Compton.

And having covered Compton during his time at the University of Georgia, the HQ has seen what he can do as a golfer- a tremendous golfer who, just happens to have a rather large medical file for his doctors to look through.

Here's his thoughts after finishing tied for second when he thought he could have done better...
Which is typical Erik Compton

Zach Johnson Does Something Very Few Have In The Past

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

This happened for only the 44th time in US Open history as Zach Johnson hit a 7-iron from 172 yards with a lot of movement from left to right.

And, for the record, the HQ has never done this, either...


And we're not celebrating like that, either if we pull that shot off...

Kenny Perry Meant For This To Go In

((HT: Golf on NBC/SnappyTV))

Kenny Perry is one of the majority of golfers who are over par at Pinehurst this weekend, but this is what the "natural area" can do with you, for you, and around you...

Not a bad hole out from the junk...

Looks Like Fran Quinn Made The Cut At Pinehurst

((HT: Charter TV3 Worcester, Massachusetts))

One of the best stories of the week in Pinehurst is that of 49-year-old golfer Fran Quinn. He went through the regional qualifiers to get into the field at Number 2 for the US Open- and he gets to share the experience with his 15-year-old son, Owen, who is on the bag for him this week and is the one who gets to calm him down when he needs it.

After a huge 68, he followed with a 74 for a T28 and a ticket to the weekend. The first round was his first round he played in the Open in 18 years. Quinn has won the 1986 Massachusetts Amateur, 1997 New Hampshire Open, four Web.com events, and two Asian Tour contests in his career. But the HQ thinks that his not playing in the Mass. Open will be excused...

Kevin Shea caught up with Quinn toward the end of his sportscast after he made it back from Purchase


“I’m looking forward to it,” he told GolfWeek's Jim McCabe. “Overall, I’m very pleased. It’s one good round from being really in the mix.”

Mahan And Donaldson Play Each Others Balls... Which Is Wrong...

((HT: Golf Central Daily/BBC/USGA))

On a few different levels...

And it's a two-stroke penalty on the course...

On their 9th hole of the day (the 18th at Pinehurst No.2), Hunter Mahan played Jaime Donaldson's ball and vice versa. That is a two-stroke penalty for both golfers- regardless of intent- and both guys are having issues trying to make the cut at the US Open

Here's what you do next after you realize it...


Both double-bogeyed the hole...

Here's the rule in the books:

Rule 15-3:

If a competitor makes a stroke or strokes at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes.

The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he is disqualified.

Strokes made by a competitor with a wrong ball do not count in his score. If the wrong ball belongs to another competitor, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.

Exception: There is no penalty if a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a water hazard. Any strokes made at a wrong ball moving in water in a water hazard do not count in the competitor’s score.

This Is What The US Open Can Do To You

((HT: Shane Bacon's Vine))

Just ask Justin Rose


For some, it might be over before it even really starts...

This/Close To Pinehurst, But Then Math Happened

((HT: Golf Channel))

It's the dream of every American golfer to try to win the nation's golf championship...

But...

Rice golfer Landon Michelson had that chance, but he signed an incorrect scorecard...

Michelson was a first alternate but got his chance when Freddie Jacobson decided not to go. He shot two rounds of 71 at Quail Valley in Vero Beach, Florida, tying for fourth place until the mistake happened.

Here's Damon Hack starting the interview with a stand-up dude...


Aron Price is now going in Michelson's spot...

Here's How To Rebound From A 74

((HT: Pinehurst1895 their own selves))

Will Grimmer shot a 59 to follow up- and he's still not leading the North and South Junior at Pinehurst...

The 16 year old made a bogey, 10 birdies, and an eagle to shoot the only known recorded 59 on the course...

Grimmer was only one-under through five, but went berserk from there...

He’s currently third after a 3-over 74 two back of Will Blalock.

Here's the interview about his round...